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<span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: BRADDON;"><i>Our Brand is
Crisis</i></span><br>
<br>
Thursday, April 19th, in Cambridge [<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://rule19.org/download-film/film-120419-Our%20Brand%20is%20Crisis.pdf">please
download & distribute flyer</a>]<br>
<br>
<i><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://rule19.org/download-film/film-120419-Our%20Brand%20is%20Crisis.pdf"><img
alt="" src="cid:part2.01050507.00020707@mynas.com"
align="right" border="1" height="685" hspace="10" width="531"></a></i>[How
do '<i>they</i>' do it? get you to vote for the selected, corporate
candidate - and have you think you're making an independent,
informed decision ... and have you believe that '<i>your vote counts</i>'?
Better yet, how do they manage to sell you on their elections in the
first place, when no matter the outcome, you lose? How DO they do
it? This film exposes the modus operandi. The mantra is retooled at
every stop: <i>Hope, Change, Yes We Can!</i>]<br>
<b><br>
The American selling of a president [abroad AND at home</b>]<br>
<br>
For decades, U.S. strategists-for-hire have been quietly molding the
opinions of voters and the messages of candidates in elections
around the world. They have worked for presidential candidates on
every continent (in Britain, Israel, India, Korea, South Africa,
Venezuela, Brazil, to name a few…). <i><b>OUR BRAND IS CRISIS</b></i>
is an astounding look at one of their campaigns and its
earth-shattering aftermath. With flabbergasting access to think
sessions, media training and the making of smear campaigns, we watch
how the consultants’ marketing strategies shape the relationship
between a leader and his people. And we see a shocking example of
how the all-American art of branding can affect the “spreading of
democracy” overseas.<br>
<br>
In classic verite style, “<i><b>Our Brand Is Crisis</b></i>” is the
first documentary to take viewers into the rooms where the
strategies and decisions are made, giving audiences access to some
astonishing realities. This is an adventure about the all-American
art of branding, and about how it effects us and the state of
'democracy' - at home and around the world. We watch Americans
employing the same imagery and techniques used to market McDonald’s
to change the political future of another country. How do the simple
"messages" we hear all the time – whether they’re in political
campaigns or Nike ads – affect us?<br>
<br>
"<i>I wanted to make clear that this is a story that does not happen
just in Bolivia but all over the world</i>." ~Rachel Boynton,
director<br>
<br>
<i>"It's a very explosive film in Bolivia because it shows close up
a very deliberate strategy. The film is especially explosive
because it's about a candidate — so identified with the United
States and so hated by so many Bolivians — being put into office
by the political manipulations of U.S. consultants.</i>" ~Jim
Shultz, an American political analyst in Bolivia<br>
<br>
The consultants, who are the stars of the film, are little more than
mercenaries, cynical spinmeisters paid handsomely to manipulate
public opinion and Machiavellian because of the lengths they went to
get him elected. Strategists-for-hire use focus groups and polls,
employing a simple message and beginning what one adviser
unabashedly calls "a dirty war" against opponents. <br>
<br>
<i>"Machiavellian? Well, governing is Machiavellian. It's about
calculating risks and opportunities.</i>" ~Eduardo Gamarra,
director of Latin American studies at Florida International
University in Miami<br>
<i><br>
"Momentous! Will pack a punch with even the most informed viewer.
The unrestricted access we are given to these discussions that
would normally take place behind closed doors is astounding!</i>”
~NYT<br>
<br>
"<i>The pretense in disputed elections is that the great conflict is
between the two major parties. The reality is that there is a much
bigger conflict that the two parties jointly wage against large
numbers of Americans who are represented by neither party and
against powerless millions around the world"</i>.~Howard Zinn<br>
<br>
"<i>Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are
held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable
candidates.</i>" ~Gore Vidal<br>
<br>
<font size="-1"><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">"<i>There
are generally three types of people as the old saying goes:
The first type are people "who make things happen". The second
type are people "who watch things happen" and the third type
are people are those "who wonder what happened".</i></font></font>
~unattributed<br>
<br>
<b><br>
When/where</b><br>
243 Broadway, Cambridge - corner of Broadway and Windsor,<br>
entrance on Windsor<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://rule19.org/videos/">rule19.org/videos</a><br>
<br>
<img alt="" src="cid:part5.00000403.01020601@mynas.com"
align="right" height="101" hspace="10" width="331">Please join us
for a stimulating night out; bring your friends!<br>
free film, free refreshments, & free door prizes.<br>
various DVDs available for sale<br>
[donations are accepted]<br>
<br>
<i>"You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.</i>"
~ Malcolm X<br>
<br>
<b>UPandOUT film series</b> - see <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://rule19.org/videos/">rule19.org/videos</a><br>
<br>
Why should YOU care? It's YOUR money that pays for US/Israeli wars -
on Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine, Libya. Syria, Iran, So
America, etc etc - for billionaire bailouts, for ever more
ubiquitous US prisons, for the loss of liberty and civil rights... <br>
<br>
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